Florida, Georgia see largest increases in jobless claims due to coronavirus

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Another 2.4 million Americans filed for unemployment last week. According to the Labor Department, Georgia and Florida are seeing the largest increases in initial unemployment claims.

“Folks are opening back up, but they can’t get their people to come back to work,” Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) said Thursday.

Allen said his state is seeing such a high number of jobless claims because Georgians are making more money at home than on the job. He said the $600 unemployment payment included in the last relief bill is keeping people at home.

“That was an error that should have never happened,” Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) said Thursday.

Carter said that money was meant for hard-hit states like New York and not for everyone.

Both Carter and Allen said Congress’ mistake is impacting Georgia’s economy.

“We’re ready to go back to work and unfortunately there are some programs that were put out there to disincentivize people to do that,” Allen added.